September 23, 2016
Malo e lelei hoku kau famili mo kau feleni,
The weeks seem to fly by here in the MTC. I can't believe
that I will be flying to Tonga in 10 days! The MTC has truly been a great
experience. I have made eternal friendships here with my district. I know I was
supposed to be here at this exact time in my life so I could be with so many
great Elders! I had a lot of miracles happen this week; here are just a few of
them.
My district this week has had what the MTC calls the
"fourth week blues." It feels exactly how it sounds!
Our schedule here has little variety, so the
days seem to blend together which can be discouraging at times! I was pondering
on what I could do to get more energy and focus in my district as the District
Leader and I felt strongly that we should study outside when we can! It has helped
so much! We sit at tables, rocks, curbs, and most of the time just under some
trees in the grass. We sing hymns in Tongan as loud as we can and it creates an
environment where everyone can feel the spirit and feel joy! I think we all
overlook the power of hymns in our lives!
We have two "investigators" that we have been
teaching in Tongan. We teach one to two lessons a day without using any notes.
If you don't think the Gift of Tongues is real, I am here to testify that it
is! Just in the few short weeks I have been here, I have learned enough Tongan
to teach lessons, talk to my friends, pray, bear my testimony, and teach other
people Tongan! I love the Tongan language. It truly is God's language! The cool
thing about Tongan is every word has a special meaning. For example, the word
for the gospel is Ongo'ongo'lelei. When you break this word apart it literally
means "The Good News". There is no word for apostasy in Tongan, so
they use the phrase "Ko e He Faka'aufali Mei he Mo'oni" which
translates to the great loss of truth. I am so blessed to be learning such an
inspiring language.
As we were teaching one of our lessons this week, the lesson
was going well as we were teaching about baptism. At the end of the lesson, our
investigator Loupeti (Robert) felt really good about our message and knew it
was true. I then asked him, in Tongan, if he would follow the example of Jesus
Christ and baptize me! I said it wrong obviously! Haha We all started laughing!
Those pronouns they teach in school become very important when you learn a new
language! Haha
I had the cool opportunity of being the District Leader. It
is very difficult at times. There are a lot of responsibilities and
missionaries I have to watch over. One thing I have learned from it is that is
always better to lead than to be in charge. The Savior taught this in his life
and I now know it makes all the difference. My elders are more obedient and successful
when they see me doing what is right, rather than when I try to make them obey
the rules. I truly do believe that this leadership position was more of a
lesson I needed personally than it is to help my district! By serving the
people I am closest too, it opens the hearts and feelings of others who see
your good example. I believe it is contagious to follow the good example of
someone you feel a lot of love for, and that is how the best leaders lead.
We had the opportunity to hear from Brother Whitney L.
Clayton. He is the President of the Seventy. He is such an inspiring speaker.
His message was about how members don't truly appreciate how strong the
position of our gospel is. Either it is true or it isn't. There is no middle
ground. Everyone is able to know the truth of the Gospel. The gospel is true in
Moscow Russia and in Moscow Idaho. It is true in the biggest of cities and the
smallest of islands. There is no heart on this earth that is not capable of
feeling the love of our Father in Heaven and which the Holy Ghost cannot
testify of truth. That is the good news of this Gospel. Once someone really
knows in there heart that it is true, their life changes. It is easier to have
faith and it is easier to obey God's commandments. Even though we are all not
perfect, when we know the Gospel is true in our hearts, we know that we will
always be able to return home to that God who gave us life. I love the words of
Moroni as he finishes the Book of Mormon. "And now I bid unto all
farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body
shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet
you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, and Eternal Judge of both
quick and dead. Amen." I can't imagine the faith he had in his life. He
knew this gospel was true, and he worked his whole life to invite others to come
unto Christ. And when his work was done, he was comforted in knowing he was
returning home to his Father in Heaven. I pray we will all be able to know in
our minds and in our hearts, that this church is true and that God lives, just
like the great prophet Moroni.
I leave you all my testimony that I know this church is
true. I know I am enlisted in the work of salvation, and Jesus Christ stands at
the head of his work. I have felt his blessings and help in my efforts to serve
his children who he loves more than we can comprehend. I know Jesus Christ is
my Redeemer and he suffered so that I may have joy in this life. I testify he
truly knows how to succor his people, because it is by his power, that I can
speak Tongan and invite others unto him in a language I had never heard of
three months ago! I pray for the health and blessings of all of you. I know the
Savior has the power to sanctify us only when we love him and believe on his
name. And it is in his name, even Sisu Kalaisi, Emeni.
Ofa Atu,
Eleta Bingham
P.S. I got this yesterday:
22 September 2016
Dear Elder Bingham,
Malo e Lelei! We are happy to learn of your call to serve in
the Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission. Thank you for your willingness to serve our
Father in Heaven, and we look forward to serving with you. Your mailing
address (for letters and packages sent through the postal service) while
serving in Tonga will be:
Elder Brayden Bingham
Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission
PO Box 58 Nuku'alofa,
Tongatapu Kingdom of Tonga South Pacific
For letters and packages sent using other carriers other
than the postal service (such as FedEx or DHL), the physical address is:
Elder Brayden Bingham
Loto Road Liahona,
Tongatapu Kingdom of Tonga South Pacific
Please advise your family and friends to include
both your first and last names on any mail they send to you, as we can have more
than one missionary with the same last name serving at the same time. Also
label any packages with "LDS Faifekau."
It is a privilege and a blessing to serve a mission for our
Father in Heaven. We invite you to come to the mission with full dedication of
heart to carry out the work of the Lord during the time you are here. Your
spiritual preparation is the most important part of what you do between now and
your arrival in the mission field. We strongly encourage you to start praying
and fasting now for those you will be teaching in the mission field. Your
spirit and testimony are the most important attributes you can bring to the
Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission. We recommend that you obtain and become very familiar
with Preach My Gospel, and begin studying the lessons. This will help you
acquire a better knowledge of the doctrines and principles of the Gospel. Your
time at the Missionary Training Center will also be of great benefit to you in
providing a foundation of specific skills you will use in the mission field. Since
you will be learning the Tongan language, we ask that you start praying now for
the gift of tongues. The Holy Ghost will help you teach the Tongan people in
their native tongue if you pray and rely on the spirit. We will meet you at the
airport. Be assured you will be well taken care of. We look forward to having
you serve in Tonga. May the Lord bless you as you study, pray, and
fast.
Sincerely,
Sione Fifita Tui'one,
President, Tonga Nuku'alofa Mission
